Tech 1 Auto's car, vehicle and tire blog

Our blog gives you tips and helpful information from the motoring industry regarding vehicle and tire maintenance and repair.

TO TOW OR NOT TO TOW

Posted on 5/12/2016

Having your car towed into a repair shop can be expensive. A tow bill can reach $100 or more. So how do you know when to have your vehicle towed in or not? Obvious occurrences would be when your car’s engine will not start or when your brakes do not allow you to safely stop your car. But many times a customer will have driven their car into our shop for repairs that in the end money could have been saved if their car was towed in.

Any time you have a RED warning light illuminated on your instrument panel is an indication that you should have your car towed in. The RED warning light could be on due to a loss of engine oil pressure or an overheating condition with your engine’s cooling system. Either of these conditions can lead to expensive repairs or even replacement of your engine costing hundreds to thousands of dollars. Another indicator is if your check engine light is flashing. A flashing check engine light means there is a misfire occurring with the engine that could cause catastrophic failure of the catalytic converter(s), which could cost hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the vehicle. Other indicators are noises that increases in volume the faster you drive, smoke coming from under the hood or from the engines tail pipe or the smell of gasoline while driving or not.

If you are worried about the cost of the tow bill, especially if you are a fair distance from the repair shop, consider adding towing coverage to your car insurance. This additional coverage can cost less than lunch at a fast food restaurant and is a cost savings alternative to a membership in an auto club.